Mixed reactions from army, J&K police

Initial reactions from the Army and Jammu and Kashmir state police were mixed, as the Union government announced its decision not to extend the ceasefire in the trouble-torn state.

However, there was unanimity among them in admitting that the withdrawal of the ceasefire would make it possible to beat back militants more effectively.

Relieved military officers said that on the ground it may give security agencies, now carrying out specific operations, a chance to beat back the militants.

State police officials said the situation would improve for their men because during the ceasefire, policemen had become prime targets of militants after the army and paramilitary forces withdrew to their bunkers.

Fear among all is that the Line of Control between India and Pakistan may again become volatile.

Many senior army officials feel that at the international level withdrawal of the ceasefire may take away some of the initiative from the Indian side. Some argued that India should have invited General Pervez Musharaf while the cease-fire was on.

But there was more unanimity among younger officers, most of who have served in the Kashmir Valley: They felt that the cease-fire was of little use.

In fact, the ground realities should be reason enough for the army to welcome the
Union government's decision not to extend the ceasefire, they pointed out.

Since the ceasefire declaration in November last year, the army has lost almost
200 of its informers. Created at heavy costs and over a long period of cultivation, informers were their link to the grassroots. The militants have been systematically targeting army informers through the period of the cease-fire.

Officially, the army refuses to admit this.

Another big blow to the army during the ceasefire has been the fall in number of
operations. This had led to more confidence among militants, who began to move
into cities and towns. In fact, in early April, it was estimated by the state police
that almost 200 militants were active in Srinagar city, against less than 40 during the non-ceasefire period.

"The withdrawal of the army and paramilitary forces to their barracks had emboldened militants," admitted a senior army officer in Srinagar. He said that for almost over a month after the cease-fire was announced, there was complete confusion as to how exactly formations should react.

"And so we withdrew to the barracks," he admitted. And as they withdrew into the barracks, militants seized the opportunity and established dominance
wherever they could. Once they began to dominate most areas, locals began to
support them more emphatically.

"This heightened in recent times, with locals even snatching away bodies
of foreign militants from the police and giving them heroes' burials," the army officer said.

"On the ground, it may take us some time to get back to a position of
dominance and strength, to beat back the militants," the officer said. He
said that to re-establish the network of informers wherever they have been
eliminated, "would be very costly and risky".

A senior state police official in Srinagar said the withdrawal of the cease-fire would be a
relief for state policemen on the ground. "During the cease-fire, the paramilitary and army withdrew to their bunkers. The state police was carrying on with its
duties because it was our duty to look after law and order on any day,"
he said.

As the state police, especially the Special Operations Group, continued with operations, they became prime targets of the militants. Several SOG
camps were attacked and many policemen were killed during the ceasefire.

"Now, we would be able to mount more pressure on the militants because the
army and paramilitary forces will be in full swing," he said. "We would move
forward together."

However, there is concern across the ranks and forces about the Line of Control.

Despite Union Foreign and Defence Minister Jaswant Singh's assertion
that restraint along the LoC will continue, there were several who said the
situation could go back to the pre-ceasefire days.

Ever since initiation of the cease-fire, the volatile Line of Control between India
and Pakistan had been extremely peaceful. Not a single shell had been fired
along the LoC ever since the restraint, and very few small arm fire exchanges
too.

"Now it could go back to square one," a senior army officer expressed fears.

Thousands of villagers along the LoC, had been coming out of their homes
during the day, farming, shopping and walking around as both the sides kept
their guns silent. But, it would be hardly a matter of time before intense, often
ruthless, shelling across the border begins, as before
the ceasefire came into being in November.